Editors' Picks: Holiday Edition
Nicole: My number one Christmas classic is the tale of unrequited love and wintry blues: "Blue Christmas," penned in 1948 by Billy Hayes and Jay W. Johnson, but made famous by the King in 1957. Over the years, many have done the melodramatic country ballad justice (The Beach Boys), and a few have provided renditions that I could do without (read: Kelly Clarkson or Michael Bublé). I've provided two of my favorite versions: one being a television performance of Elvis with Martina McBride — the duet could be seamlessly imitated by an country/indie pair like Conor Oberst and Jenny Lewis. [...]
The Outta Sight Holiday Spectacular returns to Verdi Club
Rock Band Land and Upstairs Downstairs are teaming up with the Verdi Club to put on one helluva Holiday party next Wednesday night over on Mariposa Street. The annual "Outta Sight Holiday Spectacular" will feature acts including Upstairs Downstairs, Rainbow Beast, Future Twin, Luke Sweeney, Justin Frahm with Noelle Cahill (of Magic Trick and formerly of The Sandwitches), and Brian Belknap performing classic holiday songs and originals, with each playing two or three tracks. Of course, it wouldn't be a holiday party without some smooth booze and yummy grub, so expect some of that at the Verdi Club next Wednesday. [...]
No Voices: A Collection of Bay Area Instrumental Rock (Podcast #283)
No Voices: A Collection of Bay Area Instrumental Rock (Podcast #283) Instrumental songs sometimes get unfairly pegged as background music, but the best ones are exactly the opposite -- captivating and hypnotic without a voice or voices dominating the work. The Bay Area is home to a number of artists who create alluring instrumentals, from the drones of Barn Owl and Date Palms to the post-rock compositions of The Drift and Silian Rail and the electronic works of Yalls, Tycho and Devonwho. Artists like Judgement Day and Al Lover & The Haters show that you don't need vocals to establish [...]
Mixtape: 2011 Rock Make Street Festival Preview Mix (Podcast #257)
This episode is sponsored by Audyssey. Mixtape: 2011 Rock Make Street Festival Preview Mix (Podcast #257) As we noted in the last episode of our podcast, we're extremely exited about our fourth annual 2011 Rock Make Street Festival, taking place at Treat Avenue at 18th Street in San Francisco on Saturday, September 17th from 12pm to 7pm (RSVP on Facebook). Rock Make is a free, all ages, all day event, featuring tons of local arts and crafts vendors showcasing their wares between two stages of great local indie bands. There will also be local food vendors and a local beer [...]
Announcing the lineup for the 2011 Rock Make Street Festival: Tartufi, Battlehooch, Birds & Batteries, Bare Wires and many more set to perform!
The Bay Bridged, Tartufi, and Cookie and the Dude are proud to announce the lineup of local bands and artists performing at the fourth annual Rock Make Street Festival, returning to Treat Avenue at 18th Street in San Francisco on Saturday, September 17th from 12pm to 7pm (Facebook event). Widely celebrated as the Mission's only free, all ages, all day celebration of local independent music, arts, crafts, and food, Rock Make 2011 will feature two stages of local indie bands, over 100 arts and crafts vendors, and local food vendors. Without further ado, the following acts will be at this [...]
Listen to Sean Smith’s new album: ‘Huge Fluid Freedom’
Huge Fluid Freedom by Sean Smith The shocking image above is the album cover for Huge Fluid Freedom, the latest record from local guitar virtuoso Sean Smith. Smith might be best known for his skill as a steel string performer, or as a former member of Citay (who performed on the band's Dream Get Together album), but, as you can hear above, his new Tim Green-produced album mixes acoustic and electric elements for an expansive, experimental sound. Huge Fluid Freedom comes out on Strange Attractors on August 30th, and it is available for pre-order now. Sean Smith performs Wednesday, July [...]
Recommended, 1/3-1/9: White Fence and The Babies, Melted Toys, The Velvet Teen and more
Every Monday, we'll be offering you early picks for some of the week's best concerts. Do you think we omitted something worthwhile? Let us know in the comments! Also, we've launched a new Local Concert Calendar, which you should be sure to check out for an expanded set of daily listings. Bands/promoters/managers, feel free to submit your own shows to the Calendar too. The Babies - "Run Me Over" White Fence - "Lilian (Won't You Play Drums?)" Melted Toys - "Lost Connection" The Art Museums - "Sculpture Gardens" Sean Smith – "Palak Paneer" White Fence and The Babies' joint tour [...]
Grand Lake celebrate the release of ‘Blood Sea Dream’ on 8/24/10 @ Du Nord
As previously reported, Grand Lake's debut full-length is out on Hippies Are Dead Records, and it's now seeing release on vinyl as well. For the vinyl release show, Grand Lake has lined up It's for Free Grace (Ted Nesseth of the Heavenly States), Sean Smith & the Present Moment, and DJs James and Evander to join in the celebration. Grand Lake - "Louise" Grand Lake - "Spark" The bands will take the stage at Cafe Du Nord on Tuesday, August 24th (9:00 pm, $10, 21+). Grand Lake - Louise (I Live In A Fantasy) from Ryan Pierce on Vimeo.
2010 Mission Creek Music Festival Mix (Podcast #222)
2010 Mission Creek Music Festival Mix (Podcast #222) After a weekend of shows in Oakland, the 2010 Mission Creek Music Festival kicks into full swing this week with concerts around the City featuring a bunch of ace predominantly local bands. This mix features ten bands playing Mission Creek shows. For the full list of upcoming events, head to mcmf.org. I don't know a lot about The Lambs ("Brother Sister White") yet, but the San Francisco group has some excellent demos available for download on their web site. Parenthetical Girls, Grand Lake, and LENS (featuring Andy Human) join them at the [...]
‘Beyond Berkeley Guitar’ release party 6/29/10 at Amnesia
Berkeley Guitar was released back in 2006 as a celebration of the guitar. 2010 is the time for Beyond Berkeley Guitar, the next step in appreciating the guitar for its history and seemingly endless capacity for nuance. This new release, out now on Tompkins Square, will be celebrated on 6/29/10 at Amnesia (9:00 pm, $7): As a follow up to 2006's release, Berkeley Guitar, we are excited to host the CD release of Beyond Berkeley Guitar, a compilation of guitar creations, put together and produced by talented local Sean Smith. The new CD frames the past and present phases of [...]